Race and AI: the Diversity Dilemma

• DOI: 10.1007/s13347-021-00486-z
• Publication Date: 2021-10-09T16:02:29Z
• Authors: Stephen Cave; Kanta Dihal
• Keywords: White (mutation); Philosophy of technology

Abstract This commentary is a response to ‘More than Skin Deep’ by Shelley M. Park (Park, More skin deep: A “The Whiteness of AI”, Philosophy & Technology, 2021), and development our own 2020 paper ‘The AI’. We aim explain how representations AI can be varied in one sense, whilst not being diverse. argue that Whiteness’s claim universal humanity permits broad range roles White humans White-presenting machines, assigning much narrower stereotypical people colour. Because the attributes popular imagination, such as intelligence, power passing human, are associated racial frame with Whiteness, cast predominantly White. Following Sparrow (Science, Human Values 45:538–560, 2020), we suggest this presents dilemma for those creating or representing AI. discuss three possible solutions: avoiding anthropomorphisation, explicitly critiquing role-typing, powerful non-White.